Lawson will play retired Detective Inspector Steve McAllister, described as “the antithesis of Brian Lane’s eternal pessimism” and “a bundle of energetic optimism with a tendency to get personally involved in the cases he’s working on”.

The actor commented: “I’m delighted to be joining Amanda, Alun and Dennis on New Tricks. I’ve long admired the show and love its ability to be warm, humorous and gritty simultaneously. I’m really looking forward to being part of it.”

Executive producer Richard Burrell added: “Casting a new member of the UCOS team was always going to be an exciting challenge and we are absolutely thrilled that the brilliant Denis Lawson is joining us. Denis brings warmth, wit and charm to the character Steve McAllister and is a very welcome addition to the New Tricks family.”

Series 9 will air later this year and is currently filming at Pinewood Studios and on location in London.

Following the conclusion of Series 8, New Tricks was recommissioned last September for two new series, each comprised of 10 episodes.

Do you think Denis Lawson will be a good addition to the cast? Let us know below…

> Buy the Series 8 boxset on Amazon.

Watch the show’s opening titles…